Materials & Care

Materials & care

Fine jewellery lasts when it’s treated with care. The basics are simple.

The metals we use

925 sterling silver

92.5% pure silver, alloyed with copper for strength. A clean, bright canvas for diamonds. Sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time when exposed to air and moisture — this is normal and easily cleaned away with a silver polishing cloth. Silver pieces above 7.78g are hallmarked at a UK assay office.

Solid 14kt and 18kt gold

We work in two solid gold purities, each available in yellow, white and rose:

  • 14kt gold — 58.5% pure gold (hallmarked 585). The everyday sweet spot: more than half pure gold, with the durability for daily wear.
  • 18kt gold — 75% pure gold (hallmarked 750). Higher purity, richer colour, softer feel.

All gold is solid throughout, not plated. Gold pieces above 1g are hallmarked at a UK assay office. White gold pieces are finished with rhodium, which gives them their bright cool tone and may need periodic replating over time as part of normal care.

Why we start at 14kt, not 9ct

Most UK high-street jewellery is made in 9ct gold — the legal minimum that can be called "gold" in Britain. We start at 14kt instead. 9ct is 37.5% pure gold; 14kt is 58.5% — around 56% more actual gold, for a richer colour and better long-term value, and the hallmark proves it (585 vs 375). See our Hallmarking & Materials page for the full breakdown.

Lab-grown diamonds

Real diamonds, identical in hardness (Mohs 10), brilliance and structure to mined diamonds. They will not cloud, discolour or lose their fire with age. Where requested, lab-grown diamonds can be certified by IGI or GIA. See our Hallmarking & Materials page for more detail.

Day-to-day care

  • Put jewellery on last. After perfume, hairspray, moisturiser and makeup. Alcohol-based products dull metal and dirty stones over time.
  • Take jewellery off first. Before showering, swimming, exercising, gardening, sleeping or cleaning. Chlorine, sea water and household chemicals shorten the life of any piece.
  • Store pieces separately. Diamonds will scratch other gemstones and softer metals. A soft pouch or lined box keeps pieces from rubbing against each other.
  • Avoid rough activity. Heavy gym work, contact sports and manual jobs put strain on settings and chains. If you wear a piece daily, give it a check-over every few months.

Cleaning at home

For most pieces, a few minutes is enough:

  1. Fill a small bowl with warm (not hot) water and a drop of mild washing-up liquid.
  2. Soak the piece for 5–10 minutes.
  3. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush, paying attention to the back of any diamond settings where build-up sits.
  4. Rinse in clean warm water.
  5. Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

For sterling silver that has tarnished, a dedicated silver polishing cloth will bring it back. Don’t use silver dip solutions on pieces with diamonds set into them — the chemicals can damage settings.

Professional servicing

Every two to three years, have heavily-worn pieces (especially engagement rings, tennis bracelets and pavé pieces) checked by a jeweller. They’ll tighten any loose claws, refresh the rhodium plating on white gold if applicable, and deep-clean the piece. Pavé, claw and tennis settings should be professionally checked periodically. We can arrange this for you — get in touch with your order details.

If a stone comes loose

Stop wearing the piece immediately and contact us. Don’t try to push the stone back in or wear the piece until it’s repaired — you risk losing it. Most loose settings are a quick fix.

Questions about a specific piece? Get in touch.